Harsin returning to Boise State

Boise, ID (SportsNetwork.com) - Boise State has named Bryan Harsin as its new
head football coach.

Harsin spent the 2013 season as the head coach at Arkansas State and was an
assistant at Boise State from 2001-10. He'll take over for Chris Petersen, who
left to become the head coach at Washington last week.

"We are extremely excited in our selection of Bryan Harsin as the next head
football coach at Boise State," said athletic director Mark Coyle in a
statement on Wednesday. "Bryan is one of the top young head coaches in college
football and we are thrilled to bring him back to Boise to lead the Bronco
program. Bryan played a key role in the development of the football program as
an assistant for 10 years at Boise State and we look forward to his leadership
as we continue the ascension of Bronco football."

Harsin, a graduate of Capital High School in Boise, was the offensive
coordinator under Petersen from 2006-10 and helped the Broncos to a record of
61-5 in that role. He left to become the co-offensive coordinator at Texas in
2011 and '12 before taking his first head coaching position at Arkansas State.

"One of the hardest decisions we ever made was leaving Boise," said Harsin on
Wednesday. "We did that so I could become a better coach, so I could one day
have the opportunity to return as head coach -- that day has arrived.

"I appreciate the history and tradition of the Boise State program. I embrace
that success but won't rest on it. We will build this program every day with a
sense of urgency. I can't wait to get to work. Go Broncos!"

Harsin was a walk-on at Boise State and was the backup quarterback for the
Broncos from 1995-99, then spent one season as an assistant at Eastern Oregon.
He rejoined the Boise State program as offensive graduate assistant in 2001
under Dan Hawkins before taking over as tight ends coach from 2002-05.

In his lone season at Arkansas State, Harsin guided the Red Wolves to a record
of 7-5 with a berth in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

The Red Wolves will have to begin a search for their fifth head coach in five
seasons.

After Steve Roberts' nine-year tenure came to a close in 2010, Hugh Freeze
took over in 2011. Freeze left after one season for Ole Miss and Gus Malzahn
lasted just one year before moving on to Auburn.